Now moving into the twilight of his career, Blanc remains the consummate defender, a brilliant reader of the game who is strong in the air and a precise passer of the ball too.

Although age has taken the edge off his pace, his partnership with Marcel Desailly is the cornerstone on which Roger Lemerre's team is built.

Having made his international debut 11 years ago, Blanc was ever-present at the last two European Championships.

And famously only a sending-off many thought unfair - when Croatian defender Slaven Bilic collapsed clutching his face even though no contact appeared to have been made - denied him the chance to appear in the 1998 World Cup final.

He was named French Footballer of the Year in 1990, the year his side Montpellier won the French Cup.

He then helped Auxerre to the Double in 1995.

After a season each with Barcelona and Marseille he moved to Inter last summer.